Shelter feeder

ABSTRACT

An enclosure having one open side covering a bird-feeding hopper. A bearing assembly rotatably supports the shelter on an upright post. A wind vane is secured to and extends from the open side of the shelter so that the open side of the shelter is always downwind.

United States Patent Suchla 1 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] SHELTER FEEDER2,682,255 6/l954 Kleeman ..1 19/51 R 72 Inventor: John R. Suchla, 26292nd St. N., Min- 2 322 g li neapolis Minn. 554ll 9 2,707,454 5/1955Wilkinson ..1 19/51 R [22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1970 Primary Examiner-Hugh R.Chamblee [211 App]' 27908 AttorneyBurd, Braddock & Bartz [52] U.S.Cl...119/51 R, 119/52 R [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..A0lk 05/00 Anenclosure having one open side covering a bird-feeding [58] Field ofSearch ..l l9/5l R, 52 R, 55, 61 pp A bearing assembly rotatably pp theShelter on an upright post. A wind vane is secured to and extends from[56] Rderences cued the open side of the shelter so that the open sideof the shelter UNITED STATES PATENTS is always downwind- 2,9l8,90l12/1959 Poulsen ..l l9/5l R 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 4 z/ 73 as 5/PAIENTEB FEB 2 9 I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTORA JOHN R. SUCHLA Z0.l/IIII/(III 1 ATTORNEYS PATENTEB FEB 2 9 I972 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR.JOHN R. SUCHLA ju Ema? ATTORNEYS SHELTER FEEDER BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONNumerous bird feeders have been designed with vertical rotatablesupports so that the feeder will turn with the change in the directionof the wind. These feeders are boxlike structures having a roof or topto protect the bird feed from the snow and rain. These boxlike birdfeeders have a relatively large open area providing ready access to thefeed. Separate feed hoppers are not used with enclosures to shelter thefeeding area for the birds. These feeders do not minimize the spillageand scattering of the feed, as the feeding area is not confined withinan enclosure.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention relates to a bird-feeding apparatushaving a movable shelter supporting a feed-dispensing unit. The shelterhas a feeding area adjacent the feed-dispensing unit which is protectedfrom the wind, rain and like weather elements. The shelter has agenerally horizontal platform rotatably mounted on an upright support. Aplurality of upright supports, secured to and extended upwardly from theplatform, support a roof which covers the platform and feeding area. Thesides and one end of the shelter between the roof and the platform areclosed with upright transparent means to provide for maximum viewingfrom the feeding area. One end of the shelter is open to provide foringress and egress of birds from the feeding area. A wind vane securedto the shelter maintains the forward closed end of the shelter into thewind, keeping the open end of the shelter downwind.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the bird-feeding apparatus of theinvention looking in a direction normal to the wind direction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a forward comer of thebird-feeding apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a modified bearing assembly and supportfor the bird-feeding shelter; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a birdfeedingapparatus 10 set up for use in an appropriate location. The apparatus 10comprises a shelter or enclosure, indicated generally at 11, supportedon top of an upright support or pole 12. The lower end of pole 12 isanchored in the ground 13. The shelter 11 has an open end and surroundsa feeddispensing unit, indicated generally at 14, for storing bird feedand seed. The feed-dispensing unit 14 is located in a bird-feeding areawithin the shelter, thereby minimizing the spilling and scattering offeed from the shelter. Extended rearwardly from the shelter is a vane 16for keeping the enclosed forward end of the shelter headed into the windand thereby protecting the inside of the shelter from rain, snow, andother adverse weather.

Shelter 1] has a generally rectangular flat base, platform, or floor 17attached to end crossmembers l8 and 19 and a middle crossmember 21.Secured to the opposite ends of the crossmembers 18 and 19 are uprightposts 22, 23, 24 and 25. Connectors, as nails, screws, dowels and glueare used to attach the lower portions of the posts to the ends of thecrossmembers 18, 19, and 21, as well as to the adjacent portions of thefloor 17.

The roof or cover of the shelter is mounted on the top of the posts 22,23, 24 and 25. The roof comprises a first pair of upwardly convergingrafters 26 mounted on the top of the posts 22 and 23 and a second pairof rafters 27 mounted on the top portions of the posts 24 and 25. Upperportions of the rafters 26 are secured together with gusset members 28.In a similar manner, a gusset member 29 secures the upper portions ofthe rafters 27. The top of the shelter is enclosed with roof panels 31and 32 mounted on the rafters 26 and 27. An elongated ridge or anglemember 33 is secured to the adjacent upper portions of the roof panel toclose the crack along the top of the roof.

As shown in FIG. 3, the gusset members 28 have longitudinally alignedholes 34 for accommodating a rod 36. A flat vertical tail 37, shown inFIG. 1, is attached to the rear portion of rod 36 to form the vane 16. Afastener 38, in one gusset 28, engages rod 36 and holds the rod in theselected position relative to the shelter. The fastener 38 permits therod 36 to be removed from the shelter, permits the adjustment of theangle of tail 37, and the spacing between the tail and the shelter tobalance the shelter.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front of the shelter is closed with anupright transparent front wall 39. Opposite edges of the front wall arelocated in upright grooves 41 and 42 in the posts 24 and 25,respectively, and a groove 43 is located in the roof panels 31 and 32. Atransverse strip 44, attached to the crossmember 19, holds thetransparent wall 39 in assembled relation with the posts 24 and 25 androof panels 31 and 32.

The sides of the shelter 11 are closed with similar transparent walls. Atransparent sidewall 46 extends between the posts 22 and 24. Oppositeportions of the wall 46 are located in recesses 47 and 48 in the posts22 and 24, respectively. Blocks 49 and 51, secured to the crossmembers18 and 19, hold the sidewall 46 in the recesses 47 and 48. A similartransparent sidewall 52 extends between the upright posts 23 and 25.These posts have upright recesses 53 and 54 for accommodating endportions of the sidewall 52. Stop blocks 56 and 57, secured to thecrossmembers 18 and 19, hold the sidewall 52 in assembled relation withthe posts 23 and 25. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the block 57 is securedwith fasteners 58, as nailsor screws, to the inside edge of thetransverse crossmember 19. The outer end of block 57 extends under thesidewall 52. The sidewall 52 extends below the upper surface of thefloor 17 to minimize the entrance of rain, snow and wind into theshelter. The front wall 39 and sidewalls 46 and 52 are flat rigid andtransparent sheet members made from glass, plastic, paper and likematerials.

The center portion of the base platform 17 is secured to a bearingassembly, indicated generally at 59, supported in the upper tubularportion of the support pole 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the bearing assembly59 is confined within the tubular portion of the upper end of the pole12 so as to protect the bearing structure from the weather and yet atthe same time produce an attractive connecting structure between theshelter l1 and the pole l2. Bearing assembly 59 comprises an upper ballbearing unit 61 and a lower ball bearing unit 62 located within ahousing 63. The housing 63 has end rings located with a tight press fitwithin the upper tubular portion of the pole 12, whereby the bearingassembly is held in assembled relation with the pole. An upright shaft64 is carried by the bearings for rotation about a generally verticalaxis. The shaft 64 extends through suitable holes in the crossmember 21and floor 17. Nuts 66 and 67, threaded onto the shaft 64, secure thefloor I7 to the shaft 64. The bearing assembly 59 is coupled tosubstantially the center of the floor l7 and is substantially balancedon the bearings 61 and 62. The front wall 39 is counterbalanced by theweight of the vane 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the shelter is laterallysymmetrical on the bearing assembly 59.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown an alternate bearingassembly, indicated generally at 68, mounted on an angle support pole69. A hook 71, extended around the center portion of the bearinghousing, is used to retain the bearing assembly 68 on the pole. The hook71 has a threaded portion projected through a hole in the pole. A nut 72on the threaded portion functions to clamp the bearing assembly 68 infixed relation with respect to the pole 69. The details of the bearingassembly 68 are identical with the details of the bearing assembly 59.

Located within the shelter 1] is the feed-dispensing unit 14. As shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, the feed-dispensing unit 14 comprises an elongatedtrough or bunk 73 having a generally shallow U-shaped cross section.Opposite ends of the bunk 73 are secured to upright end stands 74 and76. A hopper, comprising upwardly diverging walls 77 and 78, is securedto the end stands 74 and 76. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower edges of thewalls 77 and 78 are spaced from the bottom of the bunk so that the feedis free to flow into the feeding area of the bunk. The upper ends of thewalls 77 and 78 are secured to transverse spacing strips 79 and 81.Generally V-shaped transparent end walls 82 and 83 extend transverselybetween the opposite ends of the walls 77 and 78 to define a chamber forthe storage of feed. The walls 77 and 78 extend in an upward directionand have a length so that when the feed-dispensing unit 14 is locatedwithin the enclosure, the upper edges of the walls 77 and 78 are locatedin close proximity to the roof panels 31 and 32.

The feed-dispensing unit 14 is longitudinally and centrally positionedwithin the housing. This position is located and maintained by the useof a pair of strips 84 and 86 nailed to the floor 17 adjacent the insidefaces of the end stands 74 and 76, as shown in FIG. 3. The strips 84 and86 fit into the recess in the bottom of the bunk and cooperate withadjacent end stands 74 and 76 of the hopper and side members of thehopper to centrally locate the feed bunk on the floor. Other locatingstructure, as pegs, blocks, or recesses in the floor 17 or bunk can beused to position the feed-dispensing unit 14 in the shelter. The centrallocation of the feed-dispensing unit maintains bird walking space withinthe shelter all around the feed-dispensing unit.

In use, the shelter 11 is rotatably mounted on the support pole 12 witha bearing assembly 59. The vane 16, extended from the trailing or openside of the shelter, maintains the front of the shelter headed into thewind. Wind, rain, snow and like elements, are not carried within theshelter. The bearing assembly 59, with its pair of ball bearing units 61and 62, rotatably supports the shelter for easy movement about anupright axis of the pole 12. The feed hopper, being within the shelter,can be used by birds that go into the open end of the shelter. Any feedor seed which is spilled will remain in the shelter. The transparentfront wall and transparent sidewalls permit the birds to view thesurrounding area while they are feeding. The birds will be reluctant toenter a closed shelter if they cannot observe the surrounding area. Thefeeddispensing unit 14 can be removed from the shelter by merelyreleasing the end stands 74 and 76 from the strips 84 and 86 andwithdrawing the dispensing unit through the open end of the shelter. Thefreely rotatable shelter 11, being positioned on the pole 12, isinaccessible to squirrels because of the horizontal extent of the floor17.

While there is shown and described a bird-feeding apparatus, it is to beunderstood that various changes in size, construction and materials, asredwood, plastic and like construction materials, can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the invention. The use of thefeeding apparatus is not intended to be limited to feeding birds. Thefeeding apparatus can be used to feed other classes of living creatures,as insects, animals and humans.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A feeding apparatus comprising: a fixed support, a shelter having agenerally horizontal platform, a forward end and a rear end, meansrotatably mounting the midportion of the platform on the support formovement of the shelter about a generally upright axis, at least a pairof generally upright spaced posts secured to each end portion of theplatform, a roof located above and covering the platform secured to theupright posts, front wall means mounted on the latforrn and forwardspaced upright posts closing the space etween the roof, the platform,and the front spaced upright posts of the shelter, the space between theplatform, roof and rear spaced upright posts being open, feed-dispensingmeans located within the shelter, a generally horizontal rod, agenerally flat tail member secured to one end of the rod, the flat planeof the tail member being located in a generally vertical position, meansconnected to an upper portion of the rear end of the roof longitudinallymounting the rod on the roof with the tail member located rearwardly ofthe open rear end of the shelter whereby the open end is maintaineddownwind, and lock means operable to permit longitudinal positioning ofthe rod whereby the tail member can be selectively moved relative to theroof to balance the shelter on the means rotatably mounting the platformon the support.

2. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the fixed support is anupright member having a tubular top portion, said means rotatablymounting the platfonn on the support comprising a bearing assemblylocated within said tubular top portion, said bearing assembly havingrotatable means connected to the platform.

3. The feeding apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said bearing assembly has apair of ball bearing units rotatably supporting the means connected tothe platform.

4. The feeding apparatus of claim I wherein: the said means rotatablymounting the platform on the support comprises a bearing assemblymounted on the fixed support.

5. The feeding apparatus of claim 4 wherein: said bearing assembly has apair of ball bearing units rotatably supporting the means connected tothe platform.

6. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the front wall means istransparent sheet material.

7. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 including: generally uprightsidewall means located longitudinally in the side spaces between sidesof the platform and sides of the roof.

8. The feeding apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said sidewall means closesaid side spaces and are of transparent sheet material.

9. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the feeddispensing meanscomprise a feed bunk and a feed storage hopper located above the feedbunk.

10. The feeding apparatus of claim 9 including: means coacting with thefeed bunk and platform to centrally locate the feed bunk on theplatform.

1. A feeding apparatus comprising: a fixed support, a shelter having agenerally horizontal platform, a forward end and a rear end, meansrotatably mounting the midportion of the platform on the support formovement of the shelter about a generally upright axis, at least a pairof generally upright spaced posts secured to each end portion of theplatform, a roof located above and covering the platform secured to theupright posts, front wall means mounted on the platform and forwardspaced upright posts closing the space between the roof, the platform,and the front spaced upright posts of the shelter, the space between theplatform, roof and rear spaced upright posts being open, feeddispensingmeans located within the shelter, a generally horizontal rod, agenerally flat tail member secured to one end of the rod, the flat planeof the tail member being located in a generally vertical position, meansconnected to an upper portion of the rear end of the roof longitudinallymounting the rod on the roof with the tail member located rearwardly ofthe open rear end of the shelter whereby the open end is maintaineddownwind, and lock means operable to permit longitudinal positioning ofthe rod whereby the tail member can be selectively moved relative to theroof to balance the shelter on the means rotatably mounting the platformon the support.
 2. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the fixedsupport is an upright member having a tubular top portion, said meansrotatably mounting the platform on the support comprising a bearingassembly located within said tubular top portion, said bearing assemblyhaving rotatable means connected to the platform.
 3. The feedingapparatus of claim 2 wherein: said bearing assembly has a pair of ballbearing units rotatably supporting the means connected to the platform.4. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the said means rotatablymounting the platform on the support comprises a bearing assemblymounted on the fixed support.
 5. The feeding apparatus of claim 4wherein: said bearing assembly has a pair of ball bearing unitsrotatably supporting the means connected to the platform.
 6. The feedingapparatus of claim 1 wherein: the front wall means is transparent sheetmaterial.
 7. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 including: generallyupright sidewall means located longitudinally in the side spaces betweensides of the platform and sides of the roof.
 8. The feeding apparatus ofclaim 7 wherein: said sidewall means close said side spaces and are oftransparent sheet material.
 9. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein:the feed-dispensing means comprise a feed bunk and a feed storage hopperlocated above the feed bunk.
 10. The feeding apparatus of claim 9including: means coacting with the feed bunk and platform to centrallylocate the feed bunk on the platform.